Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on January 3, 2015

Chief Rabbi David Lau speaks at a meeting in Jerusalem in November.

YORBA LINDA One of Israels top religious leaders will make a rare public appearance in Orange County on Jan. 12.

Chief Rabbi David Lau will speak at 7:30 p.m. at the North Orange County Chabad Center in Yorba Linda, fielding questions posed by David Eliezrie, a rabbi and co-director at the center.

Those in attendance can submit written questions.

Ill be interviewing him about the big issues today in the Jewish world, Eliezrie said. Ideas of Jewish continuity, issues of Israel, whats going on with Jewish life in America; and the community is going to have an opportunity to hear first-hand from the chief rabbi of Israel his views on these issues.

Although chief rabbis have made trips to large U.S. cities in the past, an appearance in Orange County is rare.

David Siegel, the consul general of Israel in Los Angeles, the senior representative of Israel to the Southwestern United States, said Lau will meet with Jewish groups throughout Southern California during his weeklong visit.

Eliezrie said a former chief rabbi met with a small group of students at a Huntington Beach school 25 years ago. Siegel said he cant remember when a chief rabbi last visited Orange County.

Coming to Orange County is particularly significant, because it is such a rapidly growing community in general, but also a Jewish community, Siegel said.

In Israel, a chief rabbi is recognized by the state as the head of religious leaders. Two chief rabbis one Ashkenazi, the other Sephardic are elected by a body of about 150 delegates, Eliezrie said.

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Chief rabbi to visit O.C.

Category: Ashkenazi
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